From National Reach to Local Opportunity: Building for Growth Comes to Los Angeles

ICIC’s first Greater Los Angeles cohort reflects the evolution of Building for Growth, connecting national expertise with regional opportunities and local partnerships.

By ICIC | October 28, 2026

When construction business owners, industry leaders, and community partners gathered in Altadena on October 15, they marked more than the launch of Building for Growth’s first Greater Los Angeles cohort. They celebrated the latest chapter in a program that has continued to grow and adapt since its founding in 2022.

What began as a national executive education program for construction business owners has expanded to include regional cohorts that respond to local industry needs and opportunities. From New Jersey, where contractors are exploring opportunities in green infrastructure and climate resilience, to Los Angeles, where wildfire recovery and major infrastructure investments are reshaping the construction landscape, Building for Growth (BFG) is connecting business education with regional market opportunities.

The Los Angeles launch reflects that evolution—and the partnerships that make it possible.

Building on a National Foundation

Since launching BFG in 2022, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) has supported approximately 400 construction business owners nationwide, helping them strengthen operations, build financial capacity, and prepare for larger contracting opportunities.

As the program has grown, ICIC has increasingly connected its national curriculum and industry expertise with the distinct needs of regional construction markets.

In Greater Los Angeles, the timing is particularly significant. Communities continue to recover from devastating wildfires, while infrastructure investments and preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are creating additional opportunities for local contractors.

Pursuing these projects often requires greater bonding capacity, financial resources, and industry connections. The 18-week Greater Los Angeles cohort combines business education, technical assistance, mentorship, and opportunities to develop relationships with industry partners.

The October 15 kickoff took place at the Eaton Fire Collaborative in Altadena, a fitting setting in a community actively engaged in rebuilding. The gathering brought together local contractors and organizations involved in recovery and economic development, underscoring the important role small businesses can play in strengthening their communities.

Strengthening BFG Through Collaboration

Bringing Building for Growth to Los Angeles involved more than expanding an existing program into a new market. It required understanding the region’s construction landscape and identifying ways to make BFG particularly relevant to local contractors.

In October 2025, Deloitte’s Los Angeles team began a 12-week pro bono engagement with ICIC to assess opportunities to strengthen the program as it entered its fifth year.

Led by Nahal Jalali-Farahani, the Deloitte team contributed expertise and insights that helped inform BFG’s approach to the Greater Los Angeles market. ICIC incorporated many of the team’s recommendations into the inaugural cohort.

The collaboration demonstrates how private-sector expertise can support program innovation and help ICIC better respond to the needs of the businesses it serves.

Local Partnerships Create Opportunity

The Los Angeles launch also highlights the importance of connecting national program resources with a strong local network.

The inaugural cohort is made possible through the generous funding support of Kaiser Permanente, Intuit, and The Home Depot, enabling participating contractors to access BFG at no cost.

A broad group of local ecosystem partners contributed relationships, expertise, and outreach to help bring the cohort to life. ICIC extends its appreciation to:

• Construction and industry partners: AECOM, Turner Construction, and the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission.
• Public-sector and economic development partners: Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, Office of the Los Angeles City Council President, Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Small Business & Policy, and Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
• Small business and supplier networks: Pasadena and Long Beach Small Business Development Centers, Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council, Southern California Association of Minority Contractors, and Women Business Enterprise Council.
• Community and recovery partners: Altadena Recovery & Rebuild Corporation, Department of Angels, and Eaton Fire Collaborative.

ICIC also recognizes Forward Planning & Solutions, its national Building for Growth delivery partner, for its continued collaboration.

Together, these organizations helped connect BFG with the local construction community, demonstrating the value of partnerships that extend beyond the classroom.

Building for the Future

Los Angeles also holds a special place in ICIC’s history. Following the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, Harvard Business School professor Dr. Michael E. Porter and his graduate students researched the competitive advantages of the city’s under-resourced communities. That work helped lay the foundation for ICIC, which Porter founded in 1994.

More than three decades later, the first Los Angeles BFG cohort reflects the same belief: strengthening local businesses creates opportunities for jobs, income, wealth, and stronger communities.

As Building for Growth enters its fifth year, ICIC continues to build on its national experience while exploring opportunities to respond to regional construction markets. National cohorts remain an important way to reach business owners across the country, while regional initiatives offer ways to connect education and industry expertise with local economic priorities.

For the contractors beginning their journey in Los Angeles, the coming months offer opportunities to strengthen their businesses, build relationships, and prepare for what comes next.

For ICIC, the launch represents another step in BFG’s evolution—bringing together national experience, regional knowledge, and strong partnerships to help construction businesses grow and communities thrive.

Learn more about Building for Growth.